Board releases literacy test results: Numbers down 3%

June 15, 2011
Rainy River District School Board reviews literacy test results released today
The Rainy River District School Board is committed to supporting the unique learning needs of each student. To identify those needs, and target programs and resources, the Board uses data gathered through a variety of assessments, including data generated from the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). The OSSLT yields important information about overall trends, areas of strength and areas for improvement.
Of the 283 Rainy River District School Board students who wrote the test for the first time in March 2011, 80% of students met or exceeded the provincial standard on the yearly assessment. This represents a 3% decrease from last year’s results.
The Rainy River District School Board will use the OSSLT results to inform teacher practice that will support improved student learning, and to guide all school improvement planning. Teaching staff and administration are committed to enhancing student success and closing achievement gaps, and will continue to implement recent strategies to reach every student and help them demonstrate their ability to succeed on the literacy test. “We will review the results of the OSSLT, use this information to identify and address the learning needs of our students and continue working with our teachers to ensure they have the appropriate resources to support students in further developing their literacy skills,” said Casey Slack, Superintendent of Education.
“Although this year’s success rate has declined compared to previous years, it is important to note that Rainy River District School Board results over the past four years indicate that there has been a pattern of strong student performance on the OSSLT assessment,” said Heather Campbell, Director of Education. “When the EQAO releases its comprehensive report, we will complete a thorough analysis of the results and work diligently to develop plans that best meet the needs of each individual student to help them become successful in school.”
The OSSLT provides a snapshot of students’ skills in reading, writing and communicating according to the Ontario Curriculum Standards. To be successful on the test, students must meet the provincial standard, which is measured as
Level 3 on a four-point scale.
Successful completion of the assessment or of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course is one of the 32 requirements for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
Further information about the OSSLT is available on the EQAO website at www.eqao.com.